A state of emergency situation has actually been stated after quick lava streams from a volcano in Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula erupted without warning – marking the fourth eruption since December.
Fast moving lava has already reached the eastern side of the small evacuated town of Grindavik, which was initially evacuated late last year due to similar eruption activity.
Pools of lava gathering near the town’s defences have sparked concern, although the lava streams appear to be slowing, according to local authorities.
Geophysicist Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson told local media that this latest eruption marks the most powerful so far.
An eruption last occurred near Sýlingarfell on February 8, although volcanic activity appeared to have dropped off sharply since then and the tourist board had advised visitors it was once again safe to visit the area.
Iceland’s Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management announced it had sent a helicopter to narrow down the exact location of the new fissure.
The latest eruption appears to be in the same location as the first and third, according to experts.
It is the seventh time the volcano has erupted in three years.
‘Warning: An eruption began in Reykjanes,’ the Icelandic Meteorological Office said on its website, while Reykjavik’s nearby Keflavik Airport’s website showed it remained open both for departures and arrivals.
Local media reports that residents of the nearby fishing town of Grindavik had been evacuated from the area, having received text messages telling them to leave just minutes earlier.
The roughly 4,000 residents of Grindavik had only been cleared to return to their homes on February 19 after having been evacuated on November 11.
Following the eruptions, the town was hit by a series of earthquakes which opened up a huge fissure on the edge of the village, sending lava flowing into the streets and reducing three homes to ashes.
Volcanic outbreaks in the Reykjanes peninsula are the result of so-called fissure eruptions, which do not usually cause large explosions or significant dispersal of ash into the stratosphere.
However, scientists fear they could continue for decades, and Icelandic authorities have started building dykes to divert burning lava flows away from homes and critical infrastructure.
This is a developing news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.
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